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10 Quick Observations from a 7-3 Opening Day Phillies Win

Luke Arcaini

By Luke Arcaini

Published:

Mar 27, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) is introduced prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

The Phillies’ 2025 season is underway with a 7-3 defeat of the Nationals in extra innings on Thursday evening.

MacKenzie Gore tore through the Phillies early, but the bats battled back later in the game and took advantage of the Nats bullpen.

10 observations from this one:

1. The shadows at Nationals Park are brutal

It was pretty obvious that hitters were struggling early with the shadows. The Phillies and Nationals combined for 12 strikeouts in the first three innings.

Alec Bohm talked about it after the game, and it’s pretty obvious that you can’t see the baseball when the shadows are that bad:

2. Zack Wheeler is nasty

The sky is also blue, I know. But Wheeler looked to be in mid-season form early. His first five strikeouts all came on a different final pitch:

3. Trea Turner is seeing a lot of pitches already

Trea started off his day 0-2, but he saw 14 pitches in those first two at-bats. We all know Turner’s struggles with his approach since he’s joined the Phillies, and if he’s going to hit leadoff, he’s going to need to see more pitches and lay off the bad ones. This was a good start.

4. Phillies haters are loving this game

I’m writing this part in the bottom of the 5th inning. Gore has 12 strikeouts through five innings. Every single Phillie has already struck out once. The all-time record for strikeouts by a pitcher on Opening Day is 15.

5. Blaming Kevin Long for this game is idiotic

I saw some people blaming Kevin Long for the issues at the plate. You sound really, really stupid when you say that. Yes, it’s Kevin Long’s fault that the shadows were brutal, MacKenzie Gore was dealing, and the Phillies struggled at the plate in the first game of a seven month season. Yup, you nailed it.

6. The Phillies just needed Gore to leave

The second the Nationals went to the bullpen, the Phillies had some fun. For the first time in a Phils uniform, Bryce Harper went yard on Opening Day, to tie the game:

Two batters later? We got our first Schwarbomb of the year:

7. Shoutout to Jose A. Ferrer for bailing us out in the 8th inning

The Phillies had 1st and 3rd in the 8th, no outs. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott had two back-to-back bad strikeouts looking. All this guy had to do was keep the ball over the plate and he threw a wild pitch to give the Phillies an insurance run.

8. Not a great start for Romano

It was a rough Phillies debut for new addition Jordan Romano. The velocity started down, he threw six straight balls to begin, and opened his Phillies debut with a four-pitch walk and a HBP. He blew a two-run lead in the 8th on 29 pitches.

9. The Alec Bohm revenge season is here

After all of that talk of trade rumors, cut him, and “he’s a crybaby bum” this offseason, Alec Bohm had a crucial double in the 10th inning to give the Phillies the lead.

The Erin Dolan effect?

10. I’m all the way in on Max Kepler after one game

Kepler worked some nice at-bats, along with a double down the left field line. Kepler did a lot of work with Long this offseason, and he already looks comfortable at the plate on day one. It’s early, but I’m all the way in on this guy already.

Luke Arcaini
Luke Arcaini

Luke Arcaini writes about the Phillies for Crossing Broad, covers the Phillies for FOX Sports The Gambler, and co-hosts "Phillies Digest" on YouTube. The wave is the worst thing in all of sports. Contact: lukearcaini8@gmail.com

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